Combined cotton scraper, chopper, and cultivator.



PATENTED FEB.'10, 1903.

' L. D. MOORE. v COMBINED COTTON SGRAPER, CHOPPER, AND GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1992.

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No. 720,272. PATENTED FEB. 10, 903.

' L. '11. 00115, COMBINED COTTON SGRAPBR, CHOPPER, A-ND GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1902.

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UNTTED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

ILBURN DONNY MOORE, OF COLT, ARKANSAS.

COMBINED COTTON SCRAPER, CHOPPER, AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,272, dated February10, 1903.

Application filed July 15, 1902.

T at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1-, LILBURNDONNY MOORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Colt, in the county of St. Francis and State of Arkansas,have invented a new and useful Gornbined Cotton Scraper, Chopper, andCultivator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved combined cotton scraper, chopper, andcultivator adapted for use in connection with a sulky-frame on which thedriver rides.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofdevices herein-- after fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combinedcotton scraper, chopper, and cultivator embodying my improvements,showing the same in connection with a sulky, to which it is attached andby which it is adapted to be drawn, the near wheel of the sulky beingremoved and a part only of the other wheel being shown in outline. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of my improved combined cotton scraper, chopper,andcultivator, the same being shown detached from the sulky. Fig. 4 is apartial top plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a vertical transversesectional view of the same, taken on a plane near the revoluble choppingelement, the latter being also shown partly in section.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a frame 1, which is hereshown as comprising a pair of longitudinally-disposed parallel sidebars2, a cross-bar 3, which connects them together at their .front ends, apair of parallel cross-bars 4, which connect them to-' gether at theirrear ends, and an intermediate cross-bar 5. A transversely disposedshaft'6 has its bearings in the side bars 2. The said shaft is disposednear the front end of the frame 1 and is provided near its ends with apair of supporting and traction wheels 7, which are disposed just withinthe side bars 2. On the said shaft is a master-wheel 8, which isprovided with peripheral spurs and is provided on its inner side withcrownspurs 9. A longitudinally-disposed shaft is journaled in bearingsin the intermediate crossbar 5 and at the rear end of the frame.

Serial No. 115,687. (No model.)

The said shaft is disposed midway between the side bars 2 and isprovided at its front end .with a pinion 11, which is fast thereon andderstood. A cross-head 12 is disposed on the shaft 10, the latter beingrevoluble in the cross-head and the cross-head being longitudinallymovable on the said shaft. cross-head is secured against rotation and isguided ona bracket way or arm 13, which is here shown as attached to thecross-bar 5 and projecting rearwardly therefrom under the said shaft,with its upper surface engaging the lower side of the cross-head. Thecrosshead'is provided with a rearwardly-extending tubular spindle 14,which has at its front end an annular flange 15. V

At the front and on the upper side of frame 1 a frame 16 is here shown,which has at its front end a transverse portion 17, from the front andrear sides of which extend a tongue 18 and a longitudinal bar 19. 1 Atthe opposite side-of the transverse portion 17 are rearwardly-extendingbars 20, which are parallel with the bar 19. The transverse portion 17of the frame 16 is secured on the front crossbar 3 of the frame 1", andthe rear ends of the bars 19 20 are secured on the cross-bar 5. On oneof the bars 20 and on the bar 19 are bearings 21, in which is journaleda shaft 22.

The said shaft hasa spur-pinion.22,.that engages the spurred peripheryof the masterwheel 8, and at the inner end of the said shaft is a crank23, the wrist of which is connected to the cross-head 12 by a pitman 24.It will be understood from the foregoing that when the machine is inmotion the cross-head is caused to reciprocate longitudinally on theshaft 10.

On the shaft 10 is a revoluble chopper 25, which is adapted to revolvewith the said shaft and to reciprocate longitudinally thereon. Anysuitable connection may within the scope of my invention be made betweenthe chopper and the shaft 10, so that the former will be caused torevolve with and permitted to reciprocate longitudinally on the latter.In the embodiment of my invention here shown the hub portion 26 of therevoluble The chopper has a central sleeve 27, which forms its bearing,the shaft 1O extending through the bore of the said sleeve, and thelatter is connected by a pairof straps 28 to the flanged sleeve of thecrosshead 12. Thereby a swiveled connection is effected between therevoluble chopper and the cross-head, so that the former will be causedto reciprocate with the latter. The cross-pin 29 projects from oppositesides of the shaft 10 and operates in longitudinal slots 30, with whichthe sleeve of the chopper is provided. This construction admits of thereciprocating motion of the chopper on the shaft, while causing thechopper to rotate with the shaft, as will be understood. The hub portionof the chopper is provided with radial projections 31, which, in effect,form arms, and each of which has a tangential opening 32, that extendsto one side thereof. The chopping-hoes 33 are preferably of the formshown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and have their inner portions insertedand adjustable in the openings 32, so that the radius of the revolublechopper may be increased or diminished, as may be desired. Within thescope of my invention any suitable means may be employed to secure thechopping-hoes when adjusted, set-screws 34 being herein shown for thispurpose.

At the front end of the frame 1 are secured a pair of scrapers 35, whichare spaced apart a sufficient distance to enable them to operate onopposite sides of a row of cotton-plants. The revoluble chopper is sodisposed as to operate directly over the row of plants. At the rear endof the frame 1 are a pair of cultivator attachments 39, the beams ofwhich are secured to the under sides of the crossbars 4 by bolts 40. Thecross-bars 4 have a plurality of adjusting-openings 41 for the receptionof the bolts 40, by which construction the cultivator attachments areadjustably secured to the frame 1 and may be set at any distance apart,so that the soil will be stirred by them as close to or as far from therows of plan ts as may be desirable. A pair of fenders 42 depend fromand are attached to a block 43, which is secured centrally between thecross-bars 4. The said fenders are disposed a suitable distance apartand abreast of each other, so that they pass on opposite sides of therow of plants, and the fenders are slightly in advance of the shovels ortongues of the cultivator attachments, and hence serve to prevent theplants from being covered or injured by the earth or stones upturned bythe cultivator attachments.

A pair of supporting wheels or rollers 44 have their bearings at therear ends of springarms 45. The said spring-arms lie under the side bars2 of the frame 1 and have their front ends attached to the said sidebars, and the rollers 44 are disposed near the rear end of the saidframe 1, so that the rear portion of the latter is supported by the saidrollers or wheels 44, as will be understood. Adj usting screws 46operate in threaded openings in the side bars 2 and bear on thespringarms 45, whereby the rear ends of the latter, and hence the wheelsor rollers 44, are adjustable vertically. This enables the depth atwhich the cultivating attachments operate in the soil to be regulatedand predetermined, as will be understood.

It will be understood that when the machine is drawn along parallel withand astride of a row of plants the scrapers and cultivator attachmentswill operate to scrape the earth from opposite sides of the ridge and tostir the soil adjacent thereto and that the revoluble chopping elementwill chop outthe superfluous plants, leaving the stands at suitableregular distances apart. Owing to the fact that the revoluble chopperreciprocates longitudinally its strokes are delivered squarely at rightangles to the row and not obliquely thereto, as would otherwise be thecase. In practice the gears will be so proportioned that the elfect ofeach rear stroke of the revoluble chopper will be to counteract theforward motion of the machine, so that the revoluble chopper will bestationary with relation to that portion of the row on which it isdelivering its stroke. Hence, as before stated, the strokes of therevoluble chopper, owing to its reciprocating motion, are squarely atright angles to the row and not obliquely with relation thereto.

I will now describe a sulky on which the driver may ride and which isadapted to be used in connection with my combined cotton scraper,chopper, and cultivator to draw the same and enable the same to beraised and lowered.

A transversely-disposed axle 47 has spindles at its ends, on which arethe supportingwheels 48, that are a suitable distance apart to bedisposed on opposite sides of the combined cotton scraper, chopper, andcultivator and are of such diameter as to maintain the axle at asuitable distance above the same. A tongue or draft-pole 49 is securedto the axle 47 and has an arm 50, which projects rearwardly from thesaid axle and is here shown as provided with a vertical longitudinalslot 51. The seat-supporting bar 52 is secured to the rear end of thearm 50, and to the latter is fulcrumed a hand-lever 53, which has an arm54 disposed at an appropriate angle thereto, which arm operates in theslot 51. A draft-hanger 55 depends from the tongue or pole 49 at asuitable distance in advance of the axle 47 and has its lower endslotted or bifurcated, as at 56, and provided with a plurality ofadjusting-openings 57. A brace-bar 58 connects the lower portion of thedrafthanger to the draft pole or tongue, as shown in Fig. 1, and a pairof hangers 59 depend from opposite sides of the pole or tongue 49, aredisposed astride of the brace-bar,and their lower ends extend below thelatter.

The tongue 18 of the combined cotton scraper, chopper, and cultivator isconnected by a draft-link to a pin ,61, which is adjustable verticallyin the hanger 55 by means of the openings 57. Links 62 are connected todiverging points on the cultivator,chopper, and scraper frame and areconnected to a link 63, which is attached to the arm 54 of lever 53. Itwill be understood that by operating the hand-lever 53 the combinedscraper, chopper, and cultivator may be raised and lowered. The saidlever may be locked in position to support the scraper, chopper, andcultivator when raised by means of a keeper 64 on the tongue 49, withwhich keeper the said lever may be engaged and disengaged at will.enable the combined scraper, chopper, and cultivator to be guided toconform to deviations in the rows of plants, I provide a pair ofrock-shafts 65, which have their bearings in the hangers 59 and inbrackets 66, which are secured to the axle 47. Said rock-shafts havedepending arms 67 at their front ends, which are adapted to bear againstopposite sides of the draft-link 60, and at the rear ends of the saidrock-shafts are outwardly and oppositely extended foot levers or arms68. The driver by appropriately pressing on said lever 58 with his feetmay guide the combined scraper, chopper, and cultivator to keep the sameparallel with the row, as will be understood. In order to steady thecombined scraper,chopper, and cultivator, I connect the same at pointsnear its rear corners to the rear portion of the arm 50 by rods or othersuitable connections 69, on which are coiled ex tensile springs 70.These springs while permitting of the vertical movement of the frame ofthe combined scraper, chopper, and cultivator exert constant down wardpressure thereon and greatly facilitate the operation thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a cotton-chopper, thecombination of a longitudinal shaft, means to rotate the same, achopping element revoluble with and movable longitudially on said shaft,and means to impart reciprocatory motion to the chopping element whilethe same is revolving, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a chopping element, a supporttherefor, means to revolve said chopping element and means to impartlongitudinal reciprocatory motion thereto while the same is revolving,substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a frame having longitudinaland transverse bearings, an axle shaft in the transverse bearings andhaving supporting tractionwheels, a shaft in the longitudinal bearings,

gears connecting said shafts, a revoluble chopper connected to thelongitudinal shaft for rotation therewith and for longitudinal movementthereon, and means to impart reciprocating motion to the chopper, thesaid means being geared to the axle-shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a frame having longitudinaland transverse bearings, an axle-shaft in the transverse bearings andhaving supporting tractionwheels, a shaft in the longitudinal bearings,a chopper on said shaft adapted to rotate therewith and to movelongitudinally thereon, a master-wheel on the axle-shaft, a pinion onthe longitudinal shaft engaging said masterciprocate the cross-head andthereby recipro-- cate the chopper while the latter is being revolved,substantially'as described.

6. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a frame, having longitudinaland transverse bearings, an axle shaft in the transverse bearings andhaving supporting tractionwheels, a shaft in the longitudinal bearings,a chopper adapted to revolve and mounted on said shaft for rotationtherewith and longitudinally movable thereon, a master-wheel on theaxle-shaft, a pinion on the longitudinal shaft engaging saidmaster-wheel, whereby the longitudinal shaft and chopper are rotated, across-head mounted on the longitudinal shaft for reciprocatory motion,loose thereon and connected to the chopper, a crank shaft, geared to themaster- Wheel, bearings for said crank-shaft and a pitman connecting thelatter to the cross-head, whereby the chopper is reciprocated whilebeing revolved, substantially as described.

7. A cotton-chopper comprising a frame, supporting-wheels for the frontend thereof, a revoluble chopper disposed near the rear end of theframe, means to rotate the chopper, cultivators at the rear end of theframe, spring-arms attached to the latter and extending rearwardly,supporting wheels or rollers for the rear end of the frame carried bysaid spring-arms, and set-screws mounted in the side beams of the frameand bearingv against said spring-arms to limit the vertical movement ofthe latter, substantially as described.

8. A cotton-chopper comprising a frame, supporting-Wheels for the frontend thereof, a revoluble chopper disposed near the rear end of theframe, means to rotate the chopper,

& 720,272

cu1tivat0rs at the rear end of the frame, my own I have hereto affixedmy signature sprina-arms attached to the latter, supportin the presenceof two witnesses.

ins-Wheels for the rear end of the frame carried by said spring-arms,and vertically-ad- LILBURN DONNY MOORE 5 justable means for limiting themovement of \Vitnesses:

said spring-arms. M. DAVIDSON, In testimony that I claim the foregoingas l J. A. GATTEN.

